I need you.

The words whirled through her head, over and over like the refrain of a song. But they weren't just in her head. No, the plea hung in the air between them. Quiet. Vulnerable. And oh God, had she really said them out loud? Had she really just told Ethan she needed him?

She had. And she meant it, more than anything else she had said in a long time. She needed Ethan, needed him more than she had ever realized.

More than she was willing to admit, even to herself, even now. They made her vulnerable, opened up a piece of herself that she had never intended to open, had never even realized was there. But they were true and she couldn't take them back, didn't know how to.

And she didn't know how Ethan would react.

He didn't move, didn't even blink as he looked at her with those smoky blue eyes. Their color darkened, his gaze growing deeper as he just sat there, watching her. She wanted to look away, wanted to hide what she was thinking and feeling—the hope, the fear, all of it. But she wouldn't do that, wouldn't hide this from Ethan. Couldn't hide from him.

But oh God, what if he saw too much? And what if he decided he wanted no parts of it? No parts of her? Yes, they were friends. Yes, they had shared something down in St. Thomas, something that never had a chance to grow. Had it died already? Withered and faded away from lack of attention? What if her mind had been playing tricks on her, even then? What if she only imagined how things were between them? What if it had meant more to her than it did to him?

Fear sliced through her, freezing her in place when all she wanted to do was run away. How could she have been so naïve? So trusting? No, Ethan would never do anything to hurt her…but that didn't mean he wanted the same things.

Her body tensed and she started to pull away, an apology hovering on her lips. Ethan tightened his hold on her hand and leaned forward, his mouth closing over hers once more.

Sweet. Tender. Gentle.

She expected him to end the kiss. To pull away and make some excuse, maybe laugh and tease her, say something to take away the sting of rejection. But he didn't pull away. He didn't end the kiss.

He deepened it. Still tender, still gentle as his tongue swept inside her mouth. Slow, almost cautious, like he was giving her time to change her mind.

Her heart cracked just a little. No, not cracked. Not in that sense. It grew, fighting against the hard shell that had formed around it these last few confusing months. That was what cracked—that protective shell that let her hide, that allowed life to move past her while she stayed hidden.

She didn't want to hide anymore. Didn't want life to pass her by. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe in a few hours—or tomorrow or next week—she'd find herself in the darkness again. Hiding. Withering.

But not now. Not here. Not when Ethan's kiss was breathing life back into the shell she had become.

He captured her face with both hands, his palms warm and reassuring against her skin as he held her. Kissed her. So deep, so tender. Her pulse soared as a shudder washed over her, prickling her skin. The shudder faded, replaced by a thousand pinpricks of light, each one blasting a tiny hole in the armor that had formed around her. The holes grew, weaknesses in an armor she no longer wanted, no longer needed. Not here, not with Ethan.

The armor—that black shell that had imprisoned her—shattered in an explosion of light that left her reeling. She curled her hands in Ethan's shirt and collapsed against him, her breath rushing from her.

He pulled away, his dark brows lowering over heavy-lidded, smoky eyes. She saw the concern there, saw his own fear and knew he was worried he'd somehow hurt her. She shook her head, slid her mouth across his.

"Don't stop. Please."

He hesitated and she kissed him again, trying to reassure him without words. His hands dropped to her shoulders, slid down her back and wrapped around her waist. Then she was moving, flying, safe in Ethan's hold as he lifted her from the sofa and carried her back to his bedroom.

He placed her in the middle of the large bed. So gentle and with so much care, like she was a fragile present to be treasured. Her heart beat faster, heavier in her chest, her blood heating under his gaze.

He pressed a gentle kiss against her mouth then stepped away, his gaze raking the room with a look close to panic. No, not panic—determination. He moved to his closet, rummaged through it and came out with two dusty candles. He placed them on the dresser across from the bed then gave her a small, crooked grin before turning back and lighting them.

She swallowed against the tears forming in her eyes at the gesture, glad he couldn't see her. Then he was back by her side, his hip pressed against hers as he looked down at her. So much tenderness, so much concern. He reached down, brushed a few strands of hair from her face, smiled again.

"You need to tell me if I'm—if I'm doing anything wrong. If I'm hurting you or if you change your mind. It's okay if you change your mind, don't be afraid—"

Cindy pushed up on one elbow and placed a finger over his mouth, silencing him. "You would never do anything to hurt me, Ethan. And I would never be afraid of you."

Something flashed in his eyes, gone before she could decipher it. Then his mouth was on hers again. Still soft and tender but also claiming. Possessing. She wrapped her arms around his neck and surrendered to his touch.

Surrendered to the emotion rolling over her. Surrendered to the fire he was slowly stoking inside her.

Gentle, so gentle as his hands moved down her sides, slid across her waist. Cool air brushed against the flesh of her stomach as he dragged the sweater up. She sighed at the touch of his hand against her skin, his fingers trembling. Moisture welled in her eyes at the sensation and she squeezed them tighter, hoping he wouldn't see, wouldn't notice. Afraid if he did, he'd think the tears were caused by something else.

He broke the kiss, just long enough to ease the sweater over her head. Then his mouth was on hers again, the kiss deeper than before. Heat grew inside her. Passion. Need. Desire. Strong, so strong, pushing everything else away. All the fears, the doubts, the worries. All of it, gone, fading away under the gentle onslaught of Ethan's kiss.

His hands, so large yet so gentle, caressed her, the touch soft and feather-light. Each caress of his trembling touch ignited a flame of desire against her skin, making her burn with need.

Cindy clasped his shoulders with her hands, needing…more. Needing him. To touch him. Feel him. Taste him. She moaned, the sound a soft sigh of need, and reached for his shirt, her own fingers shaking as she grabbed the hem.

Ethan's hand closed over hers, stopping her. He pulled away, his eyes dark with desire as he shook his head.

"No. This is about you."

"But I—"

"You."

His mouth claimed hers once more, deep and thrilling. Then he trailed his lips across her jaw, her throat, back to the sensitive spot below her ear. A shudder claimed her as liquid fire moved through her veins. Heat pooled between her legs and she sighed again, moving against him.

Need. Desire. Strong and powerful.

Ethan didn't stop kissing her, didn't stop touching her. Soft, gentle, lavishing tender attention over every inch of her skin. He reached behind her, unhooked the clasp of her bra and slid it down her arms.

Her back arched as his mouth closed over one tight nipple. She moaned again, her legs moving against the bed as she cupped the back of his head with one hand. Her fingers played in his hair, marveling at the soft thickness.

And then he moved to her other breast, pulling the nipple deep into his mouth. Her back arched again as another moan ripped from her. Low and urgent, filled with need. But he didn't stop and the heat between her legs grew, a fire that roared out of control, needing…

Needing Ethan.

Words rushed from her mouth, hoarse and rambling, making no sense. Ethan raised his head, those smoky eyes filled with promise as his gaze met hers. He said something but Cindy couldn't make out the words, not above the roar of her blood, not through the haze of need that shook her.

And then Ethan looked away, his mouth dropping to the flesh of her abdomen as he kissed his way down, down to the waistband of her pants. He pushed to his knees beside her, his gaze intent as he removed each boot and tossed them to the floor. Then his hands were on her waist, his fingers dipping into the waistband of her pants as he slipped them down past her hips. Her thighs. Down further until he pulled them off and tossed them behind him.

His gaze raked her body, a slow journey that started from her feet and traveled all the way up, igniting even more heat and need within her. He reached out, trailed the tips of his fingers up her leg. Outlining her calf. Caressing the sensitive skin behind her knee. Trailing fire up her thigh. Her hips tilted, searching, needing.

Ethan bent his head, his mouth hot against the skin of her leg. He kissed every inch of her, his lips grazing scorched skin, fueling a fire that was already blazing out of control.

Her hips tilted again, searching, needing. She reached for him, her hands closing over air as he straddled her legs. Her lids fluttered open, her mouth parting on a sigh filled with need.

"Ethan…"

His eyes blazed with a heat and need that echoed her own. She saw the muscles of his throat work as he swallowed, noticed the heavy beat of his pulse at the base of his neck. He didn't say anything, just watched her as he peeled his shirt off and tossed it behind him. Her eyes drifted to his chest, to the broad expanse of muscles and the light spattering of hair in the center. She lowered her gaze, following the thin dark line that disappeared into the waistband of his low-slung jeans.

Need crashed over again. Different this time. Potent. Powerful. Stealing her breath. Could he see it in her eyes? Did he know what she was feeling? What she was asking for as she reached for him?

He slid off the bed and moved to the nightstand, his hand hovering inside the drawer as he watched her. He hesitated then pulled a foil packet out, held it in his hand without moving. She reached for him again with a soft moan, almost desperate now.

Ethan stood next to the bed, the condom still in his hand as he watched her. His chest rose and fell, the sound of his breathing harsh. "Tell me you want this, Cindy."

It wasn't ego she heard in his voice, it was need. A need to be reassured, a need to know that she hadn't changed her mind. And fear—a fear she instinctively knew was for her. Fear of hurting her.

She tucked her legs under her and pushed to her knees, moving to the edge of the bed. She reached out, placed her hand on his chest, just over his heart. Its beat was strong against her palm, a steady thunder that matched her own. Then she leaned forward and brushed her mouth against his.

Reassuring. Asking for reassurance in return.

"I need you, Ethan. Please."

Her words—or maybe it was her touch—seemed to unleash something in him. His arms came around her, crushing her to him as his mouth claimed hers. Harder this time, possessing, making her his. He broke the kiss and stepped away, shoved his jeans off, and ripped open the small package. He sheathed himself with the condom then reached for her again, eased her back against the mattress. He stretched out on top of her, his body hard and warm against hers. His arms shook as he held himself above her, his eyes deep and intense as he captured her gaze. Held it.

Her fingers trembled as she reached up and traced the soft fullness of his lower lip. Then his mouth crashed against hers again, hot and wet. Demanding yet giving. And then he was inside her. Filling her.

Making her whole once more.